Pallet conveyer and selector



Oct. 14, 1952 J. E. M PHEE 2,513,798

BALLET CONVEYER AND SELECTOR Filed July 29, 1950 I: Sheets-Sheet l Jon-91E. MPHEE W N ATTORN EYS Oct. 14, 1952 J. E. MCPHEE 2,613,798

PALLET CONVEYER AND SELECTOR Filed July 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /l- A]; /I 27 l ,87 27 a Gr. 5.

"F; (3.7.- 4 -36 34 48 30 39 \uveu'rgw.

C 44 4/ JOHN E. M-PHEE flu W ATTOILNPQ with their initial movement or Patented Oct.- 1 1.952

PALLET" CONVEYER AND SELECTOR John E. McPhee, Grand Rapids, Mich,

assignor to John Widdicomb Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Claims.

This inventionirelates toapallet conveyor and selecting mechanism, by means of which pallets, on which articles to be processedare held, may be selectively moved either in direct line selectively moved in a direction at rightzangles or laterally to their first movement, :the palletsbeing supported on roller trackconveying structures, one of; which is at right. angl'estbthe. other When pallets come to the last mentioned. track, they may be Application Jilly Z9, 1

selectively moved thereover or continued upon the first trackywith respectto which the second track is. located atright': angles. Thus a continuous seriesof 'palletss-moving over one track to the juncture with the:.other or second track,

will either continue over the first track orbe automatically moved-.torthe second track at right angles thereto, in conjunction with a, novel means applied to the zpallets'iwhich-are to.-be moved at right angles to itheirfirstdirection of movement,

which means is applied ::-to,-.- the: selected ,pallets to be thus moved by workmen at a remote distance; while those-inothaving such novel means applied thereto will continue-in the same direction of movement .-wh ich1 they initially have.

It is anobject andrpurposeof the present invention toprovide an automatic. conveying .and selecting apparatus serving the purposesstated in a particularly.effeotivemanner. One place where 'the'novel apparatus of myinvention is used is in furniture factories. A pallet carrying articles of furniture over the first roller track structure'may be directed-to a place in the factory where a finishing process upon the article is to be performed, to a- ;b aking oven or for any other purpose Thosewhichare changed in direction and moved overthe second roller conveyor apparatus may require a difierent or additional processing step, andthe pallets which carry such articles have applied thereto the simple and novel means whicl'rbrings the automatic change direction mechanism into operation, so

that such pallets will he -selected from-a continuous number of pallets carrying such articles of furniture and will be moved oraswitched to proceed to a, different destination.

An understanding'of the invention and a'preferred structure embodying the same may .be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 1.

950, Serial No. 175,725 7 (Cl. 198-21) Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, somewhat enlarged, plan view of the roller conveyor mechanisms. one located at right angles to the other, at the place where a transfer'from one to the other takes place.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal vertical section substantially on the plane of line 22 in Fig.

' 1 showing the mechanism in one position. I

Fig. 3 is a like view showing the-mechanism in a second position, in which position the change from one roller conveyor to the other is made.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section substantially on the plane of :line 4--4 of Fig. 3,1ooking inthe direction indicated.

. Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating diagrammatically the pallets, part moving in one direction and part in another direction at right angles thereto.

"Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pallet with a portion at one end broken away and shown in section, and

Fig. '7 is a diagram of the fluid pressure and electric circuits for controlling and operating the mechanism.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

In the structure shown, one roller conveyor over which pallets may be moved includes parallel spaced apart track bars I and 2, preferably of anglev iron members; on the vertical legs of which spaced rollers 3 turning on horizontal axes are mounted. A second roller track conveyor includes spaced parallel bars 4, also of angle form, on the vertical legs of which like spaced rollers -5 are mounted, but with the rollers 5 disposed at short distance above the plane of the rollers 3. The bars 4 are spaced farther from each other than the bars I and 2, in-accordance with the shape of a pallet which is greater in length than it is in width. If the pallet was square the spacing of the bars I and 2 and of the bars 4 would be the same. Such bars I, 2 and 4 are mounted on suitable posts 6 which extend to the floor as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The'ends ofthe bars 4 which are adjacent the inner bar I of the first conveyor structure are spaced therefrom a short distance.

Below and transversely of the bars 4 arespaced.

side of the roller carrying' bar' I,

cured thereto at their lower ends and extending upwardly. At their upper end portions and at their adjacent sides each carries a pair of spaced rollers I the axes of which are in vertical alignment. Other rollers II (Fig. 1) are carried by posts 9, as shown in Fig. 1, such rollers I0 and II serving as carriers and guides for the spaced side bars I 2 of a movable frame which is mounted for a longitudinal movement parallel to the length of the roller carrying bars 4, and located substantially midway between them.

The twdbarsllilz;"paiallel each 'otherQand are of angle form'havin'g outwardly extending horizontal legs which are between the rollers Ill while the rollers II bear against their outer edges. The bars I2 are tied together at what may be termed their inner ends by a permanently connected plate I3. -A 'pluralit'y of cross bars I4, spaced from each other, are'u sed' 'to connect the frame bars I2, being located at openings pins 29 may be inserted. The pins .are headed at their uppenen'dsand the shanks being of" a greater length than the thickness of the pallets extend below the lower sides of *"the pallets with which connected. -Ona cross bar carried by the outer post 9 a normally open switch 30 is mounted in a position'tof'be closed by the member I6 when such I member is moved thereto. A second switch 3|,

difierent places intermediate the length. of said v bars I3. Each bar I2 at its outer end carries an upwardly extending finger I (Figs? and 3'-) permanently secured thereto, and one of them .atitstinner side and near itszoiuter end .has a switch actuating member Iii-permanently secured thereto." 1 I .A somewhatelongated'cylinder (I 11's iiconnected at its outer end on a cross rod I8 between the posts 9 nearest the trackubar and extends therefromhcrizontally; to ward'the plate I3. .A piston rod I9 connectedrato a',.-p'iston within the cylinder 'fnot shown) passes throughthe inner end closure o'fthec'ylinder I? and i's permanently' connected to the plate-1'3. When the'pistonrod I9 is movedtoitheileft :(Figs. 2 and":3), th'e'ca-rriage frameprovided by the bars v I2 and the cross members I3 and I4 is moved tothe left fl igs; 2 and'3) and when the reverse movement'takes place such carriage is moved back to: its initial position "(Fig-12'), in which it'iis; across the roller carrying bars I and 2 and over them with the fingers :I5 at the outerside of the outermost bar 2.

A bar is located at the inner side .6: each 'of the roller carrying bars 4, at their outer end portions; and extends outwardly beyondthe outer ends of the bars 4. Each bar' ZO has a permanent welding connection toanother bar 1 2|, located at the outer' s'ide of the bar 20, and

extending underneath the first-"track bars I and-2-. At "their i'nner ends, short generally vertical plates 22 are permanently secured and normally open, is carried on a cross bar be xtweenjthe.roller-carrying bars I and 2 and will be closed by a closure member 32 connected therewith upon swinging movement of a pivotally mounted actuating member 33 in a clockwise direction, when a: pallet 2! having a pin 29 connected therewith moves :so that such pin -bearsagainstthe. inner side of the member '33 "pallets beingsupplied -w'i'th pins '29 "and others not" having .such' '.pi-ns.-..connected therewith; any pallet which "has a .:pin 29 connected therewith operates toclose the :switch't3 I.- The pallets may be moved 'byan endless chain conveyor 3t (Fig. 1') In :those cases where .the pin closes the switch 3 I, there'is 'an automatic operation. of a ya'l-ve to--direct nuid-pressure to the outer end of the cylinder I 1 whereby its piston rod is moved but-oftheinner-end of the cylinder I1 and the carriage compris'ed 'o'f' the-bars I2" and connect- "ing "parts' 'lt and H is .moved to the left (Figs l,'-2 a-nd"3).' 1 I I-he control pi the movements of the piston rod- I 9-of cy1i-nder I1 and of the rod 26a of cylinder 'zfi' isshown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. 'The 'lower endof'the cylinder 26 and the :outer'end 0f the cylinder 21 are connected by apipenondu'it 35. The inner end of the cylinextend upwardly; Near their upper ends they are pivotally connected to thevertical legs-of I the roller' carrying barsfii Cross bars 23, spaced from each other and rollerfcarrying bar 2 and'the other atjtl'ie outer are permanently connectedat their ends to the bars 20 -and'2I. Over the'bars 2I"b'etween' the roller carrying bars I and "2 angle-bars 24 are "permanently secured; the verticallegs of which-carry spaced rollers turning on horizontal axes.

The rollers 25 are in direct alignment'with the pivotal mountingat its lower end on a bracket secured to the floor and through the upper end loca'ted on'e-in a plane 'atthe innerside of' the 7 -der' IT'h'as a pipe' conduit 36 connected therewith which, "through a branch connection at 37-,"j'o'ins "with "the upper end of the cylinder 2-6; Iii-the line of the conduit 36 between the cylinders I! and 26 an air passage control valve '38 is located' wh'ich permits free passage of air to the' cyl-inder IIin such conduit but controls and restricts and slows down or stops passage oft-air from the cylinder I'I until a predetermined =pi'essureha's 'been accumulated.

The conduit 36 leads to a valve housing 39 having connection thereto. A further conduit 40 forf'the fiuid pressure connects at one end with thewalve housing 39, and at the other to 'the first 'mentioned' conduit at a pointbetweenth cyIindersI'I-and 28. Compressed air or other fluid pressure leads into the housing 39 through apipeII"I.- H

The -'valve withinthe valve-housing for controlling thefpassage of air to and through the 'pip'esfltll' and- 36 alternately, is through a rod 42 secured on which are two spacedapart armatures 43 and 44 of solenoids, the solenoids 5. having windings around'such; armatures. "The electric current fromelectric mains-is "carried by wires 45 to a junction box 46. The circuit wires 41 therefrom are connected with the Winding around the armature 43 and in such circuit the normally open switch 3i is located. Other circuit wires 48 from the junction box have the solenoid winding .around armature 44 interposed therein, and in such circuit the switch 3| is located. 1

When pallets are placed on the rollers 3 and are moved in the direction indicated in Fig. 5 by conveyor chain 34, if such pallets 'do'not have the pins 29 inserted in the openings 28 they will merely continue their movements over the rollers 3 in a direct line. When a pallet carrying a pin 29 reaches a position such that the pin 29 strikes the lever 33 and closes the switch 3| the solenoid having the armature 43 is energized and the valve within the valve housing moved so that the pressure fluid, compressed air or the like, flows through the conduits 40 and 35 and the outer end of the cylinder l1 and lower end of cylinder 26. Air from the inner end of the cylinder I! will be exhausted through the conduit 36 and from the upper end of the cylinder 26 through the branch conduit 31. The lifting of the rollers 25 will take place immediately but the movement of the piston in the cylinder I1 will be delayed until sufficient pressure has been built up in the exhaust pipe 36 to open the control valve 38 thereby delaying movement of the fingers l5 until the pallet has been lifted after which the bars 12 will move to the left (Fig. 1). The fingers l5 engaging the outer side edges of a pallet 21 will move it over the rollers 25 and 5 and also move any previously switched pallets through the power exerted by the cylinder I1, its piston and piston rod l9. Such movement continues until switch 30 is closed by the member l6 coming thereto. On the closure of the switch 30 the solenoid winding around the armature 44 will be energized and the rod 42 moved in the opposite direction, so as to change the valves to direct fluid pressure through the conduits 36 and 31 to the upper end of cylinder 26 and the inner end of the cylinder l1, returning the parts to initial position in readiness for the next pallet 21 which carries a pin 29.

It is therefore apparent that the one who loads the conveyor in the first instance at a remote distance, by applying to selected pallets the pins 29 will condition them for automatic transfer from the conveyor rollers 3 to the rollers 5, while other pallets from which the pins 29 are absent will continue their movement over the rollers 3. Of course a corner may be turned, for example, at a corner in a room at a factory, and each pallet in such circumstances will require a pin 29 to be attached thereto in order to insure the transfer from the rollers 3 to the rollers 5.

The structure described is very practical and useful and is in continuous operation. It is sturdy and eflicient and is not liable to get out of order.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a structure as described, a conveyor over which pallets are adapted to be moved with the pallets located in end to end relation, a

6 second conveyor extending at right angles to and located at a side of the-first conveyor over which pallets are adapted tobe moved in side by side contacting relationship, 'a carriagemounted underneath the second conveyor extending across J the :first conveyor, .means for mounting saidcarriage for reciprocatory move- 'ments in the direction of the length of the second conveyor, said carriage: having upwardly extending pallet engaging means thereon to en'- gage a side edge of a pallet over the first'conveyor, and means for'elevating a pallet above said first conveyor and-for moving the carriage to bodily move the pallet to the second conveyor.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, said carriage moving means comprising, a cylinder substantially parallel therewith, a piston rod extending from one end of the cylinder connected with the inner end of the carriage, and means for alternately entering fluid pressure at oppo site ends of the cylinder.

3."I'he elements of claim 1 in which said means for elevating a pallet and for moving the carriage includes means controlled by movement of the carriage to return said elevating means and said carriage to rest positions.

4. In a structure as described, a conveyor comprising two spaced parallel bars, each having spaced rollers thereon turning on horizontal axes, a second conveyor to one side of the first conveyor having spaced parallel bars and rollers thereon spaced from each other mounted to turn on horizontal axes, the rollers on the second bars being at a higher elevation than those on the first bars, a frame pivotally connected to the bars of the second conveyor extending underneath the first conveyor, rollers on said frame between the bars of the first conveyor, said rollers being in alignment with the rollers of the second conveyor, and at the same height when the frame is lifted to upper position, means to move pallets over the rollers of the first conveyor, means for elevating said frame to lift a pallet from the rollers of the first conveyor therewith, and means for engaging a pallet thus lifted at its outer edge to move it to the second conveyor.

5. A structure as defined in claim said means for moving said pallet comprising a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movements back and forth between the bars of the second conveyor, said carriage at its outer end having pallet edge engaging means, whereby when the carriage is moved in one direction said pallet is moved therewith to the second conveyor, and means actuated by a pallet for rendering said frame lifting means and said carriage moving means automatically operative when the pallet is over the rollers on said frame.

6. In a structure as described, a conveyor over which articles are adapted to be moved successively, a second conveyor extending laterally from the first conveyor, a lifter in the path of the first conveyor and in alignment with the second conveyor adapted to elevate articles from the first conveyor, a pusher adapted to move articles from said lifter onto said second conveyor, and automatic means controlled by movement of an article on the first conveyor for actuating said lifter and said pusher.

7. The elements of claim 6 combined with automatic means controlled by movement of said pusher in an article pushing direction acting to return said pusher and lifter to rest posiions.

tuation or said pusher.

9. The elements o'f'claim 6 :in which said auto- 'matlc means for actuating :said lifter and said.

pusher includes a cylinder and piston for each cf said lifter and pusher, .fiuid pressure and exhaust ccnduits for said cylinders and a delayed action valve in one 10'! the conduits for said pusher cylinder.

10. The elements cf claim v1 in which :said

means for elevating a pellet and for m'ovingthe '8 carriage automatically Ia'cts to raise the elevating means prior tomeving the carriage.

JOHN E. MCPHEE.

5 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'file of this patent: I

V UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,904,837 Posey Apr. 18, 1933 1;92,9,'204 Jeffrey Oct. 3, 1933 2,253,572 Mitchell Aug. 26, 1941 

